John Frusciante
| Videos | |
 |
 |
| John Frusciante's Guitars |
John Frusciante Interview |
 |
 |
| John Frusciante Guitar Solo |
John Frusciante With The Red Hot Chili Peppers |
| Guitarist Quick-Facts |
| Name: John Frusciante |
| Born: March 5, 1970 |
| Guitar Gear |
| Guitars: Fender |
| Amplifiers: Fender, Marshall |
| Bands: Past & Present |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers |
John Frusciante was born on March 5, 1970, in Queens, New York into a musical family. His mother, a talented vocalist, gave up her chances at a career in the industry to be a stay at home mom. His father was a pianist who trained at the Julliard School. The family was living in Florida, where his father worked as a judge, when his parents divorced. After the divorce he moved with his mother to California. When his mother re-married, Frusciante's new stepfather was highly supportive of John's musical interest, and in John's own words made him “feel good about being an artist”.
Living in Los Angeles, Frusciante became infatuated with the L.A. Punk scene. At the age of ten, he had taught himself to play almost all of the songs on the album “(GI)” by The Germs. The next year, John began taking formal guitar lessons. His instructor introduced him to the music of The Red Hot Chili Peppers and he began studying the use of the blues scale from recordings by Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix, among others. Shortly after, he was introduced to Frank Zappa and studied his music intently.
Frusciante went to his first Red Hot Chili Peppers concert when he was fifteen and came to idolize guitarist Hillel Slovak. Frusciante began to teach himself to play both the guitar and bass parts of Red Hot Chili Peppers songs. Over time, he would teach himself the vast majority of the songs on the bands first three albums.
At the age of 16, John was allowed by his mother and stepfather to drop out of high school under the condition that he completed a proficiency test. In an attempt to develop his music proficiency Frusciante enrolled in classes at the Guitar Institute of Technology, but dropped out before his schooling was over.
When he was 18, Frusciante would get the chance to meet Hillel Slovak who asked him if he would still love the Chili Peppers as much if they were playing the Forum. Frusciante replied, “No. It would ruin the whole thing. That's great about the band, the audience feels no different from the band at all.”
Soon, Frusciante began jamming with drummer D.H. Peligro, who had previously played with the Dead Kennedys. Peligro was friends with Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, and invited him to jam with them as well. Flea was impressed with Frusciante's extensive knowledge of his band's music. When Slovak died of a heroin overdose in 1988, Flea suggested to the rest of the Chili Peppers that they audition Frusciante, who already knew how to play most of their songs.
Frusciante had previously wanted to try out for Frank Zappa band, but decided against it at the last moment when he heard that Frank prohibited illegal drug use. Frusciante explained his reasons in an interview, “'I realized that I wanted to be a rock star, do drugs and get girls, and that I wouldn't be able to do that if I was in Zappa's band.” Frusciante was also close to signing a deal to play with Thelonious Monster, but upon being invited into the Chili Peppers changed his mind. He was ecstatic to be playing with one of his favorite bands.
Frusciante first struggled with the funk sound of the Chili Peppers music, but focused on emulating Slovak's style. Michael Beinhorn, who was producing the band at the time persuaded John to go in his own direction, and wanted Frusciante to play with a heavier tone. Frusciante did not feel that it was the best direction, but ultimately gave in.
When the band made it big, Frusciante became dissatisfied. As he had told Slovak years ago, he felt that extreme popularity ruined what the band was about. He later described his feelings at the time, “too high, too far, too soon. Everything seemed to be happening at once and I just couldn't cope with it.” In 1992, John abruptly made the decision to leave the band
Frusciante quickly developed a crippling heroin addiction. He released two solo albums, one in 1994, and the other in 1997. Most of the songs on both albums were recorded while John was strung out on heroin, and he openly admits that the second album was released only to get drug money; in 1999 he withdrew it from the market. John quit heroin on his own in 1997, but remained addicted to crack cocaine and alcohol. At the urging of friends, John checked himself into a treatment facility and was able to kick his habits. When his body recovered from the savage toll that the drugs had taken on him, John dedicated himself to a more healthy lifestyle, eating un-processed foods and taking up Yoga.
Around this time, the Red Hot Chili Peppers had fired Dave Navarro and where seriously considering breaking up. Flea told the band that the only way he could imagine them staying together is if they could get John back in the band. Knowing that he was recently free of his addictions, they agreed that it was a good time to invite John back. Flea went to Frusciante's home and asked him to come back. Frusciante broke down in tears and said “nothing would make me happier in the world”.
